Who was out?
ICC has accepted that there been an umpiring error in James Anderson’s run out in England’s 111 run defeat at the hands of Australia in their World Cup 2015 opener in Melbourne, last Saturday.
“Following Australia’s 111-run win over England in the Group A ICC Cricket World Cup clash at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday night, the Playing Control Team (PCT) met and reviewed the final ball of the game which resulted in James Anderson being given run out,” an ICC statement said.
“Article 3.6a of Appendix 6 of the Decision Review System Playing Conditions states that the ball should have been deemed dead when the batsman (James Taylor) was given out LBW. No further runs or dismissals were possible.”
“The PCT spoke to the England team management and acknowledges that the game ended incorrectly and that an error was made.”
The confusion came to surface when the English batsman James Taylor who was then not out on 98, was given out by umpire Aleem Dar following a leg before appeal from Josh Hazlewood. However, Taylor called for a review which suggested the ball was passing down the leg side.
Dar’s original decision was therefore overturned. But as England attempted a single from the same delivery, Glenn Maxwell hit the stumps before Anderson could make his ground. After some confusion and a number of replays, the square leg umpire, Kumar Dharmasena gave Anderson out.
But the playing conditions suggest the ball should have been declared dead at the time and Anderson should have been reprieved. While the decision had no bearing on the result – Australia were in a position of overwhelming dominance – it did deny Taylor the chance to register a century on World Cup debut.
Yet, experts at this end say that once the decision was given by Aleem Dar, play should have stopped and the review is done under the same conditions and there has been an umpiring blunder. But, they also argue that the third umpire who has access to all rule facilities at hand could have intervened and brought to the on-field umpires notice that when a referral is pending the ball is deemed dead.